Sparkling spangles!

by ciriliarose on December 23, 2008

For this week’s KnitBits holiday greeting, I whipped up some festive holiday orbs! These yarn balls are so evocative, they simultaneously remind me of evergreens, presents, snowballs, ornaments…all things sparkly and bright! They were very easy to make, if you made Morty or don’t own a ballwinder, you can totally handle these holiday spheres.

Start with a round object (Norah notes that crumpled up newspaper is a greener alternative to Styrofoam balls) and wrap as you normally would to form a yarn ball, turning every few wraps to ensure a nice round shape. Turn in small increments for a neat ball or turn at sharp angles for the randomized look featured here.

I used a selection of Berroco Yarns: Ultra Alpaca, Pure Merino, Palace, Peruvia and Peruvia Quick, Inca Gold and Lumina. I started each ball with two shades of green. The next layer is the ornament layer–I chose jewel tones and bright primaries inspired by the traditional nose magnifying glass orbs. I finished each yarn ball with a few turns of shiny gold Lumina. Tuck each end into the layers so the yarn stays put.

That’s it! To create a treescape stick a knitting needle through a shoebox and spear three yarn balls onto the needle, shish kabob style. Create mini spheres and thread them onto a strong plied yarn (like Ultra Alpaca) to create a colorful garland for your real tree. Attach a paper clip to hang them from the tree or simply display them in a glass vase or shallow bowl. Instant pretty!

Liked the balls and they definately would be colorful arranged in a white or colored glass bowl. Also liked the miniture sweaters you’ve sent befoe and have made several of them to hang on a garland that I put up at Christmas as well as minature socks I make from the self striping sock yarn. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you all. Caroline

I think this warrants a trip to the LYS to buy cashmere yarn and have it wound into balls. I am sure some of the cute push pins would decorate it some. Wonderful idea…wish this would have come 3 weeks ago, my tree would be covered with these!

How very precious! What a wonderful idea! I think this would be just perfect for an all year round display, just change your colors for each season. You could keep it in tree shape or display the balls separated but placed together in a decorative bowl. Thanks for the great ideas.

Oh yes, Morty is absolutely ingenious! I will be using the paper clip idea many times in the future. Once again, thank you so very much for all of the “great” ideas.

What a wonderful idea! I made a wreath of yarn balls several years ago and it’s hanging on the front door right now. Everyone asks where I got it from. When I tell them, only true yarnholics grimmace wondering why I “wasted” my good yarns in such a useless way. So, now I’m thinking about which needles I won’t be using for awhile. The trees are gorgeous!!

What a fantastic idea…. and yes count me in for this as next year’s “go to gift” for those many many people I give a little something to…. this year it was 10 prs of crochet slippers to all at my local Library….. I dipped into the tons of “scraps” and made the funkiest crochet slippers you ever saw…. They LOVED them!!!! I have to say that Berroco is my favorite site for style and color…. have to admit I cannot always afford “the good stuff”, but as a person that makes up her own patterns.. this place makes my heart sing every time….Happy Holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year….. bj

My family received something like this as a gift from a visitor from China back in the early 70’s, a visiting scientist on a exchange program, we still have them and they are beautiful. Thanks for these instructions, now we can add to our collection.

NICE!!! I’m gonna do it a little differently though…I’m gonna wrap some pre-existing balls like that….put them in a basket along with a few yarn ‘butterflys’ and send them to my daughter. 20 years of ‘mom, whats the fasination?’ and someone did the imposible…got her hooked on crochet! I’m a knitter and she never took an interest, but she is now a crocheter without a lot of yarn in her stash. I was going to send her a select few yarns from my stash and presentation was becoming a problem…and right on time, is this pattern. Thanks so much.

What a fabulous idea! I’m looking at these on December 26th – and will definitely use this idea for future Christmases. Normally we go away for Christmas through New Year’s, so don’t put up a tree at home – we simply enjoy the trees of our relatives and friends. Well, we were snowed in this year! I’d have made these for us if I’d opened my email sooner. In any case, I’ll make them for us each year – as they’ll give us that touch of the season easily and with great colour and texture. Many thanks.

What fun!! I make temari balls and have for about 11 years now and these are very similar to some of the Japanese patterns. Great fun to do.
( I have done Level 1 – Honka and Level 2 – Koutouka Japanese Temari Master program) so I am very familar with threads, yarns and round! 8-)
This is just fun!!! Will consider making them for next year’s Christmas sale.
Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing.
Louise
Chilliwack, B.C.

What a great pleasure it was when I opened your e-mail of Christmas greetings to me and the visual beauty of the Christmas balls. I belong to other yarn sites and you were the only ones to extend the greeting to me. Will keep and try this next year. What Joy and again Thank You! Joan Bonita Springs, Fl